Sunday 30 June 2024
Bonne Maman
Saturday 29 June 2024
Spousework
Thank you Kezzie for this new word. Today I will not be doing housework, or mousework, because I shall be busy supporting Bob. Spousework - activities in support of one's best beloved. It is the day of the annual Swanton Morley Duck Race. A well attended event designed to raise funds for the 'Friends of the Parish Church'. About 1000 ducks have been 'sold' at a cost of £1 each - they will all be tipped in the river, and the first 3 to arrive at the end of the route [a local farm] will win prizes. A fete will be held on the field, and Bob is running a Shed Project stand. As well as promoting the shed programme, there will also be a craft activity for the children. [making wooden boats] So yours truly will be there...
So no Mousework today, but thank you SueJay for reminding me of the mice in Bagpuss. This animated children's TV programme was made by the "Smallfilms" company, run by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. It was filmed in a barn not 10 miles from Bob's childhood home in Kent. As well as the saggy old, baggy old cat Bagpuss, and his friend Emily, the cast also included six squeaky mice. They always sang their songs to the old English folk tune "Sumer is icumen in"
You probably know the adjectives bovine [to do with cattle] πand equine [relating to horses]π - but did you know the words anatine [of ducks]π¦ and murine [about mice]π?
Friday 28 June 2024
Flash Sounds So Boring In Comparison...
We were in a B&Q type store in Paris and saw these in the household cleaning products section
Terre de diatomee is 'diatomacious earth' - an insect repellant [like ant powder.]Thursday 27 June 2024
Housework v. Mousework
Wednesday 26 June 2024
Ups And Downs
Tuesday 25 June 2024
I'm A Princess!
Monday 24 June 2024
Yes I CAN !!
- That will free up space in the waterbutts in case of rain
- It will weigh them down and stop the plastic ones blowing about the garden if there is wind
- They are ready for a quick dash round watering to tomatoes etc.
* leave some to sustain the new bulbils.
Sunday 23 June 2024
The Measure Of Love...
...Is To Love Without Measure
I found this lovely fridge magnet in Sacre Coeur in Paris last month
Saturday 22 June 2024
A Poem For The Summer
O do not ask
if I am beach body ready.
Observe how the folds
of my stomach ripple
like the wind-pulled waves.
Feel these pale buttocks,
smoothed by the sand-grains
of time.
Note these milk-white limbs,
useless and stranded,
washed up whalebones.
Consider the tufts of hair
which sprout on my shoulders
like sea-grass.
And listen to the lapping
of my socks
at the shores of my sandals.
And you ask me
Friday 21 June 2024
Heads Up - And Down
Thursday 20 June 2024
Rev Almond, In The Garden, With A Kebab Skewer
Wednesday 19 June 2024
Pretty In Pink
I picked this up in a Charity Shop a few months back. It was originally written in Japanese. The styles are classic, and simple, and all the patterns are included, for 24 outfits for little girls aged 2-10. There's an excellent review here.
Jess was three last week, so I was delighted to get out my lovely new sewing machine [again!] and make her two summer outfits. She does like pink!
A pink summer dress, and a little two piece- a cross back top and matching shorts. Both of which I hope she will enjoy wearing and find cool and comfortable when [if?] we get hot sunny days.
I saved on fabric by using bias binding - although the book gives instructions for making your own binding. I used vintage buttons on both items, and pretty star stitches on the machine to decorate the pockets.The fabrics came from Anglian Fashion Fabrics, and I got a discount because I belong to the Costume and Textiles Association. I do love the bees and strawberries print.
Tuesday 18 June 2024
Peace Like A River
Monday 17 June 2024
Keep The Chairman Happy!
Sunday 16 June 2024
Saturday 15 June 2024
Going Back
I think it was 2006 when plans were first mooted about a massive housing development just up the road from Kirby Muxloe - the village on the edge of Leicester where we'd lived since 1995. The Council had thousands of letters of protest in the first week. And just one saying "Our church is very close to the proposed site- if you do this how can we help build a good community there?" And because he was the only one who offered help, they took Bob seriously. We got Churches Together In Leicestershire on board, and went for prayer walks round the muddy fields where the new town was due to be built. The Council said if we provided a community worker, they would provide housing [which was way more than we'd dared hope for]
Friday 14 June 2024
No Martians Here...
On Saturday, at the Village Yard Sale, all was revealed. The house owners were listed as having a sale, so we were able, quite legitimately, to go through the gate and into the garden. It is normally hidden behind a thick, high hedge. The UFO lay in pieces on the lawn.
Thursday 13 June 2024
Mice!
Are rather nice.
Their tails are long,
Their faces small,
They haven't any
Chins at all.
Their ears are pink,
Their teeth are white,
They run about
The house at night.
They nibble things
They shouldn`t touch
And no one seems
To like them much
But I think mice
Are Nice
Better felt will give a more professional result, I think, especially if I am planning to make and sell these. The instructions are really good [except for the seam allowance advice] with clear photos
That's OK, said Bob, what size do you want - and went out to the Lathe Palace where [surprisingly] he has locking forceps in three different sizes [Is he practising brain surgery out there, do you think?] The little 4" ones were perfect for the task.
Wednesday 12 June 2024
All Stitched Up!
This has been a great follow up to our original Postcard Project. I can really recommend this collaborative stitching to build sewing skills and strong friendships.
Tuesday 11 June 2024
D Day Done
Monday 10 June 2024
Just One Thing
Such sad news about Dr Michael Mosley. I did not know him personally - but listened to him on TV and radio, read his books, and even tried his diet plans. I particularly enjoyed his "Just One Thing" programme. I did briefly attempt the cold shower thing, but decided against that becoming a daily habit.
I do believe he was a good man, who genuinely wanted to help other people to live happier, healthier lives. He always came across as kind and caring, with a good sense of humour.
My thoughts and prayers are for his widow Clare, their four children, and his many grieving friends right now. And with the people of Symi - a tiny island now overwhelmed with media coverage. They really pulled together to search for him [one of their police officers fell and broke his leg] and this is not the outcome anyone was hoping for.
Thank you Michael - for challenging so many of us to think seriously about the way we eat.RIP
Sunday 9 June 2024
The Ship Of The Church
Two logos - one for the local grouping of Churches Together, the other for the World Council of Churches.
Oikoumene means inhabited world
Both include the image of a ship on the sea. Traditionally a symbol for the church throughout the ages. Jesus' first disciples were fisherman - and he calmed the storm - the winds and the waves obeyed him.
When we were in Paris we visited the church of St Etienne Du Mont [St Stephen of the Mountain] which is situated just behind The Pantheon.] This is a fascinating church - there has been a place of worship here since the 6th Century.
Clovis, King of the Franks, and his wife Clothilde were buried nearby, and St Genevieve, Patron Saint of Paris. Mathematician Blaise Playwright Racine, and Politician Marat all found their final resting place here.
When we visited, on a sunny afternoon, we found - as in every other church we entered- there were many people sitting alone, at prayer. Some lit candles, or wrote their prayer in a book or on a noticeboard, others merely sat or knelt, hands clasped, heads bowed. Old ladies, smartly dressed businessmen, fashionable young women on their lunchbreak, scruffy students with backpacks...it is quite usual for people to pop into a place of worship for a few moments [or longer] to find a quiet place to speak to God about the things on their hearts. I love the fact that they can do that - that others respect their activity and do not bother them with chatter. We were both appreciative of the opportunity to stop, and remember friends and family at home in the UK, difficult world situations - and the impending election.
St Etienne has an amazing display of stained glass windows in the cloisters - rescued from other churches during the first world war. This one particularly caught my eye.
Saturday 8 June 2024
Has-Been Aubergine...
Months ago I ordered some plants from Suttons - including a special offer of three veg plants in pots for £9.99. I chose a 'heritage' tomato, a mini cucumber, and an aubergine. The tomato came a while back, it is thriving in the greenhouse and already has tiny fruit like petit pois. But I had a message when it arrived saying the other two would come later. On Thursday 23rd, I had an email saying they'd been "prepared for despatch". I tracked my order, and knew that on Saturday it was at the depot in Norwich. So I spoke to my kind neighbour Jo, and said "If it doesn't come before we leave Tuesday morning, will you look out for it please?" I left notices at front and side door saying "please take parcel to neighbour at #..." Which they clearly hadn't.
Thursday afternoon [30th] I had a WhatsApp from another neighbour saying that she had walked her dogs and seen a parcel on my path [she does this really early before work] I WhatsApped Jo. She said she'd been checking regularly, and spotted the parcel, on the path at 7am. Delivered by Yodel. The tracking site said "left in a secure place as requested"
But it was really battered, the plastic was cracked in places, both plants had broken stems.and shrivelled leaves. She took photos as evidence. Although she took them home and tried to revive them both died.
I went round and collected them the day after we got home. Very dead! I emailed Sutton's on the Friday - and they responded immediately. There are no more of these plants available, so they refunded my £9.99 in full. [thank you] Which I consider to be very efficient customer service. But I would still like to find some mini cucumber plants somewhere...